Worrier to Warrior: Smashing Fear and Negativity Through Faith

Chemo and radiation is the thermobaric weapon of the medical world.

Recovering from it produces a whole bunch of unpleasant side-effects not the least of which is a severely impacted mental state, not helped by fatigue, loss of appetite along with nuked taste buds and saliva glands.

Good thing my faith provides the ultimate psychologist. This is how God is flipping the script on my mind, according to Romans 12:2.

First thing's first: this verse isn’t just a gentle nudge; it’s a divine mandate.

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

This isn’t about sitting back; it’s active engagement in a battle against a world that’s trying to pull me under. It isn’t relaxation time; it’s boot camp for the soul.

Here’s my action plan:?

1. Dive into the Bible: This is my sword, my shield, and my master plan. I wouldn’t step into battle unarmed, so I never start my day without God’s Word, courtesy of the Bible In A Year podcast by Father Mike Schmidtz. And when I hit a "begat" and my eyes start to glaze over, I snap myself out of it! There’s treasure in those pages, not just an ancient family tree.

2.??? Pray Like It’s My Lifeline: Because, frankly, it is. This isn’t about reciting sweet nothings; it’s raw, real dialogue with the Creator of everything. He’s got the might to shift realities, including the state of my mind. So, I hit my knees (on my bed coz of an old knee injury) ?and get brutally honest with Him. He’s big enough to handle my chaos.

3. Surround Myself with Warriors: Average company won’t cut it. I rally with folks who are ready to battle alongside me and for me. People who echo truth when lies try to drown me out. If they’re more about binge-watching than being on mission for God, I know I’m in the wrong squad. Thanks to a new AA sponsor, I've started hitting a whole bunch of zoom meetings where you can talk about Christ, Bible and scripture and won’t getting the hairy eyeball from the pagans. ??

4. Serve: Stepping out of my bubble and onto the front lines. Serving others takes me out of my own head and plugs me into the bigger picture. This journey isn’t just about me; it’s about God’s bigger story. Plus, lending a hand to someone else is the quickest way to step over my own issues.

5. Laugh, For Heaven’s Sake:

Yes, we are now officially in trashworld and it’s a hot mess, but joy is my secret weapon. One of the hardest aspects was losing my sense of humour and ability to keep myself company. But God created laughter, so I’m using it. I refuse to take myself so seriously that I forget the joy found in salvation. A cheerful heart is strong medicine, and sometimes, you’ve just got to laugh in the face of adversity.

Now, let’s be clear: This transformation isn’t a snap-your-fingers kind of deal. It’s a daily, tough, relentless grind. I might not wake up tomorrow feeling like a brand-new person, but every day I choose to immerse myself in Scripture, pray my heart out, keep the right company, serve, and embrace joy, I’m giving God room to work His miracle in me.

I’m in the thick of a war, but I’m fighting on the winning side. Remember, God’s victory through Christ is already in the bag. My role? Keep fighting the good fight, keep pushing forward, and let God take care of the transformation.

He’s got the reins, and He’s got me.